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Ljósártungur rhyolite mountains in the Icelandic h

There are many natural wonders worth seeing in Iceland. Among the best known are waterfalls, hot springs, lagoons, basalt columns, geothermal pools, craters, and cliffs to name a few. Although not many mountains are on the list of natural wonders there are a few clusters of mountains that are very interesting. Most of the mountains are quite colorful as they are rhyolite mountains. One of the reasons that the Laugavegur hiking trail is so popular is the fact that on a large part of the trail, you walk through some very colorful rhyolite mountains. Actually, the starting point in Landmannalaugar is exceptionally colorful as well as most part of the first day.

The result of an interplay of hot springs and rhyolite

Ljósártungur is a name for a rather large area east of the hiking trail Laugavegur near Hrafntinnusker. Although Ljósártungur mountains seem tempting the area is quite difficult to walk as it has many ravines, gullies, and ridges. It also has many hot springs and here you can even find some ice caves. The whole area is extremely colorful and in some respect, almost unreal. The mountains are at an altitude of 800 to 1000 meters and like most places in the Icelandic highland covered with snow during winter. In summer it usually doesn't get warm enough to melt all the snow from winter, so the small snowdrifts from the winter do no melt adding the white color to the magnificent rhyolite color, the smoke from the hot springs, the mountain vegetation and the blue color of the sky. Almost a perfect recipe for a great photo.

A difficult place to visit, part of the Syðri Fjallabak highland road

Ljósártungur mountains is a fascinating but difficult place to visit. Like almost all parts of the Icelandic highland, the area is only accessible in July until the middle of September. Driving the mountain road Syrðri Fjallabak you will drive on a ridge that gives a great view of the Ljósártungur rhyolite mountains.